Kingfisher

Gaspode

I've just spent a while watching a kingfisher feeding on the Tolka near where I live (near Ashtown), and what a stunningly beautiful bird it is.
It's at least 5 years since I last saw one around here - there are very elusive so it was probably there all the time and I just missed it.
I've yet to see a photo or illustration that comes close to capturing the phenomenal shades of blue in these birds - it's like they are lit up from the inside!!

I'd love to get a photo of it,but it's so fast I'd never catch it!

Cardynal

Fantastic birds , their is a few holding territory on the Barrow near where i live and i get an odd glimpse of them.
As you said , very difficult to capture on camera but if you go to Birdforum.net some truly amazing images on here especially by Katz and Targetman.
Regards Tom

thedarkroom

Cardynal wrote: »

Fantastic birds , their is a few holding territory on the Barrow near where i live and i get an odd glimpse of them.
As you said , very difficult to capture on camera but if you go to Birdforum.net some truly amazing images on here especially by Katz and Targetman.
Regards Tom

Is Inistiog on the Barrow? I'll be down there tomorrow with the family and if I thought there was a chance of seeing a kingfisher then I'd bring my spotting scope with me.

Rainbowsend

Gaspode, if you put up a stick slightly overhanging the river near trees you might get lucky, they are birds of habit and would normally use the same route in their territory for feeding, if there is food available in the area that you put the stick they might start using it. Worth a try.

Cardynal

thedarkroom wrote: »

Is Inistiog on the Barrow? I'll be down there tomorrow with the family and if I thought there was a chance of seeing a kingfisher then I'd bring my spotting scope with me.

Inistoige is on the Barrow allright , lots of luck involved in seeing the kingfisher but throw in the scope anyway.
Woodstock estate is quite a good spot for Jays (the monkey puzzle walk is usually fairly good) , also iv'e seen a few Barn owls at dusk this summer if youre in that area.

MB Lacey

If you're interested there's a guy who built his own kingfisher nesting site (so avoided the nest/photo licensing laws) and took some Amazing photos.
A friend of mine has a bird blog and posted the link to the daily mail article ..
The photos of the chick kingfishers are unreal.


here's the link for the article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1288468/A-fish-supper-fit-king-Enchanting-images-inside-kingfishers-nest-mum-AND-dad-deal-dinner-time.html

Mothman

A dead Kingfisher was found beside my house yesterday. Presumed collision with window.

I took a few photos before burying it.

They are a remarkable shape of bird and so small in the hand. Small wings and the long beak. Myself and kids took opportunity to have a close look and I give you opportunity via the attachments.

Rainbowsend

Ahh such a pity, a female too.

Mothman

Rainbowsend wrote: »

Ahh such a pity, a female too.

How does one tell?

Roen

Cardynal wrote: »

Inistoige is on the Barrow allright , lots of luck involved in seeing the kingfisher but throw in the scope anyway.
Woodstock estate is quite a good spot for Jays (the monkey puzzle walk is usually fairly good) , also iv'e seen a few Barn owls at dusk this summer if youre in that area.

Inistioge is on the Nore, Graiguenamanagh is on the Barrow though and is nearby.
I've only seen one along the Barrow between Graigue and Borris, but a couple on the Suir up past Carrick-on-Suir. Hope that helps!

Rainbowsend

Mothman wrote: »

How does one tell?

The lower beak is red on the female

Feargal as Luimneach

Rainbowsend wrote: »

The lower beak is red on the female

Never knew that, you learn something new everyday:o

greenpeter

I found one in September on a river beside me, he couldn't fly so i tuck him home and put him in a large box with a bucket of water from the river with a few stickle backs in it, put a branch over the bucket and he came good after 2 days so i let him off where i found him.
I still see him well i think its him as there ain't that many around.
I don't think a camera can do a kingfisher justice they are magic.
(excuse my filthy hands:o)

bogtreader

Brilliantly done i am very impressed there must be some new kingfishers flying around now because of your actions.:D:D

Half-cocked

I used to live beside the Tolka further downstream from Ashtown where the OP saw a kingfisher. There were always a pair buzzing up and down along there, so it looks like the Tolka is a good spot for them.

It wasn't me!

I've seen them on the Liffey at Manor Kilbride and on the King's River above Hollywood. Whoever said they're magic absolutely nailed it. It's been absolutely years and those sightings are still engraved in my memory, clear as day. The one I saw on the King's River was only a few feet away as well, and I tell you, he caught a damn sight more than I did that day.

Into Everything

Cardynal wrote: »

Inistoige is on the Barrow allright , lots of luck involved in seeing the kingfisher but throw in the scope anyway.
Woodstock estate is quite a good spot for Jays (the monkey puzzle walk is usually fairly good) , also iv'e seen a few Barn owls at dusk this summer if youre in that area.

I've seen a couple in Inistioge. Check the stream on the New Ross side of the bridge. St Mullins in Carlow is my favourite spot for Kingfisher watching. Not great for photographing though as they are always on the far side of the river which is about 20-30ft wide.

emo72

i seen one last summer at the lucan demesne. absolutely phenomenal thing to see in flight. it was the first time i saw one and im always looking out for birds.

anyway ive kept walking the same route at the same time and i still havent seen it again.

it was evening time and whatever way the sun caught it, it really was like a flying neon sign.

i wonder how the came to be native to ireland? i mean its sheer colour doesnt help it blend in well?

Bagmagnet

Some of you might find this interesting. Article about a dublin photographer who captured a Kingfisher diving and catching a fish.

Link Here

wildirishswan

Here is a video of some work i did with Dublins Kingfishers.

VIDEO LINK.......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh-3xfAqka8

wildirishswan

VIDEO LINK.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqhG-M6C6EE

acidskiffle

I live near a canal and used to see a Kingfisher regularly in the same spot but haven't seen him in a long time now. He's the only one I have ever seen, lovely little blue and orange fellow. They must be awfully scarce?
Is there any particular areas to look out for them? There's a good 3 or 4 miles stretch of canal and I'd love to get a pic of one this time round.

olly_mac

I was down by the Liffey at the Memorial Park last monday morning, and caught a whirr of blue zipping across my vision. I am hoping it was a kingfisher! I will head back as soon as I can and have a good look.

emo72

Lucan demesne is where it's at! Kingfisher central for me this last few weeks. I see them everyday but they are tiny and I can see how easy it is for people not to see them. You have to train your eyes a bit to spot them. Great craic watching them though. The wife thinks I'm a nutter.

bernard0368

Gaspode, you are more than half way to getting good photographs of the bird.
You have found a spot where they are fishing. As rainbowsend said they are creatures of habit. All you need to do is set the camera up focus on a regular perch and have a little patience.

Then it is easy to get images like this one from the dodder.

OpenYourEyes

Speaking of the Dodder, has anyone seen any Kingfishers on it this year?

I used to see them quite regularly down around Milltown but havn't seen any this year, I suspect the extreme flooding before xmas had something to do with it?

cscook

emo72 wrote: »

Lucan demesne is where it's at! Kingfisher central for me this last few weeks. I see them everyday but they are tiny and I can see how easy it is for people not to see them. You have to train your eyes a bit to spot them. Great craic watching them though. The wife thinks I'm a nutter.

Is that the same as St. Catherine's Park or is it somewhere else along the river around Lucan?

emo72

cscook wrote: »

Is that the same as St. Catherine's Park or is it somewhere else along the river around Lucan?

St Catherine's park is the north side of the Liffey? Well I'm talking about the Lucan entrance at the statoil garage. Walk along the river and they are there. Hope this helps.

dodderangler

See them anytime I'm fishing the dodder there's a nesting pair under the bridge at firhouse and funny enough there is Dippers beside them in a different hole

olly_mac

I was away for a bit, so didn't get a chance to have a dander down the Liffey until this morning. Had the telescope on a kingfisher for a good few seconds before it zipped off again. Judging by all the posts here they are regularly spotted in Dublin. I have a week off next month... I have a plan now

swifts need our help!

You buried it! You could have put it in the post for me to get stuffed

Great photo above.

Check out this photo on the Native Birds forum
http://www.nativebirds.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24432

emo72

swifts need our help! wrote: »

You buried it! You could have put it in the post for me to get stuffed

Great photo above.

Check out this photo on the Native Birds forum
http://www.nativebirds.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24432

cant see it. need to be registered to see it. can you post it here? thanks.

emo72

do kingfishers migrate in the winter? cos if they dont they certainly hide themselves well. i know a good spot on the liffey for watching them in the summer, but come the winter, nada. any ideas why?

emo72

just an update. spent a nice evening watching them on the liffey. had my binos with me and got some great viewing of them feeding. truly amazing watching them up close.

Rainbowsend

They don't migrate, but will move closer to the sea in winter, so their usual stomping grounds would be deserted, but they usually return to their nesting sites by March or so. Haven't seen any yet this year, but with the long hard winter we had I am sure there were a few casualties

swifts need our help!

Bury! Get it stuffed

vandriver

I saw one in Dun Laoghaire harbour last winter.

emo72

also their "call" is very distinctive. They'd usually whistle just before they took flight, so you'd get an advance notice of when they were gonna appear. you wouldnt have a chance of seeing them unless you seen it fly to a perch, they are really much smaller than i imagined.

emo72

vandriver wrote: »

I saw one in Dun Laoghaire harbour last winter.

interesting? they would go right to the sea to overwinter? i wonder if they were actually feeding on saltwater fish or in a river on freshwater fish.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They don't go to the sea to overwinter as such. Some feed by the sea all year round and others move to the coast during times of prolonged severe weather during the winter.

vandriver

I saw one yesterday flying across a field at Corkagh Park!

olly_mac

I just got back from Bushy Park. Saw either the same bird on two ocassions, or two seperate ones. I had no binoculars with me . That is a rare mistake on my part! Lovely birds.

OpenYourEyes

olly_mac wrote: »

I just got back from Bushy Park. Saw either the same bird on two ocassions, or two seperate ones. I had no binoculars with me . That is a rare mistake on my part! Lovely birds.

Delighted to hear that! I walked 5km of the Dodder last saturday, from Rathfarnham Shopping Centre downstream and saw no Kingfishers at all (despite spotting a Kingfisher being my main motivation for being there), so delighted that there are still some there!

emo72

well its been a great few weeks, they are very active,the parents, and im hoping to see the chicks fledge soon. i know where the nest is, and all his favorite perches. does anyone know how many chicks on average and are their colours the same as the adults?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They will have 2 or 3 clutches in quick succession, often in the same nest. Seems late for the first clutch. Young fledge around 24 to 27 days.

Fledged birds are very like adults but the feet take several months to attain the bright orange of an adult.

I would suggest you invest in any of many excellent bird books, if you have such an interest.

emo72

Ben Small Liquid wrote: »

They will have 2 or 3 clutches in quick succession, often in the same nest. Seems late for the first clutch. Young fledge around 24 to 27 days.

Fledged birds are very like adults but the feet take several months to attain the bright orange of an adult.

I would suggest you invest in any of many excellent bird books, if you have such an interest.

well i may have been looking at fledglings. although i usually see one heading back to the nest so assumed that was a parent. only ever seen one at a time and dont know if its the same one. but its the same usual perches i see them at. will pay close attention to the feet next time.

emo72

an update, hadn't spotted anything since my last post in july. then went for a walk christmas day and stephens day and spotted it flying both times. maybe the calm bright weather after the storm made them very active and they were getting as much feeding in as possible. or maybe it was just good timing:D

either way first time i spotted them deep into winter. im getting better.

whelzer

I spotted one on the canal in the general Lexlip area on 27th Dec. I've made note where "he" went and intend on bringing binos and camera with me next time.

Jayzesake

Was delighted and surprised to see a Kingfisher flying along the Lee in the very centre of Cork city the other day. First time I've seen one for over 30 years (!), though in fairness I wouldn't have been looking too hard for most of that time.

skittles11

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Delighted to hear that! I walked 5km of the Dodder last saturday, from Rathfarnham Shopping Centre downstream and saw no Kingfishers at all (despite spotting a Kingfisher being my main motivation for being there), so delighted that there are still some there!

Walking the dog in Dartry Park yesterday when I spotted a kingfisher flying low up the river. No time to get a snap unfortunately. Saw one once up at Roundwood reservoir but that's gotta be 20 years ago now! Beautiful little birds.